Star Sports Pro Kabaddi gets set to make a sensational debut

As the stage gets set for the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League to create history in the Indian sporting scene, the teams are getting ready to display their prowess in the sports' biggest spectacle. All set to kick-off in Mumbai on Saturday, 26th of July, the build-up towards Kabaddi's revamped avatar has hit fever pitch. A fight to be crowned the champion of the ultimate Kabaddi league in the world, the matches will be spectacularly produced and telecast live on prime time TV by international broadcaster, Star Sports with a simulcast on Star Gold starting at 7.45 pm every day.

A combative sport, with seven players on each side, played for a period of 40 minutes, each Kabaddi match is divided into two halves with a 5-minute break in between. The core idea of the game is to score points by raiding into the opponent's court and touching as many defenders as possible, and returning safely to his side of the court without getting caught; in a single breath. Staying true to their motive of revamping Kabaddi by giving it a new international face, the organisers of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League have tweaked the rules to make the matches even more exciting. To accommodate the game's top stars, the weight limit has been raised from 80 to 85 kilograms. During the league, raiders will be governed by a 30-second 'raid clock', to eliminate the time wasting tactics when leading. A raider who enters the opposition's half in the presence of 6 or more defenders will be awarded a bonus point. To reward similar courage for defenders, the tournament will witness a `Super Catch', wherein, if a raider gets trapped when up against only three defenders or less, the defending team will get an extra point. To minimize the number of empty raids, the third consecutive empty raid by any team will result in the ouster of that raider, and a point will be awarded to the opposition. In the scoring system during the league phase, teams will earn 5 points for a win, 3 points each for a tie; and if the margin of loss is less than 7 points, then the losing team will be awarded one bonus point.

Looking forward to the tournament, all the eight city-based franchises are gearing up for the big stage. With final permutations and combinations in order, the coaches and players are training tirelessly and getting ready for the six-week caravan format league, spread across eight cities covering the length and breadth of the country. While the Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan are concentrating on playing as a unit, cutting across borders and coming together as a team; the Patna Paltan is busy taking cues from captain Rakesh Kumar's experiences as the captain of the Indian Kabaddi team. Getting set to make their debut in an International sporting league, the Patna Pirates and Telegu Titans are looking forward to make their performance in the tournament count. Expressing his anticipation towards the league, Anup Kumar, Captain of the U Mumba team said "As the league kicks off in Mumbai, we are is looking forward making the most of our home advantage. Our team, U Mumba, is also very excited at the prospect of travelling around the country for the rest of the matches. We have been putting in hours of practice, both at an individual level and a a team and have also been following a rigorous training and fitness schedule. I am confident that the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League will be instrumental in getting sport the recognition it deserves." 

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